Mechanical stoker.



No 869,539. PATENTED OUT. 29, 1907.

D. A. WOOD.

MECHANICAL ST'OKER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, 1907.

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D. A. WOOD. MECHANICAL STOKBR.

APPLIOATION FILED nus 1907 Witnesses (l/Ql aftp'aneao 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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w f 4. Ola A/ 7 A M 4 H 4 V m5 Q w 7i 4 6 MT MECHANICAL STOKER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, 1907.

DAVID A. WOOD, OF MCKEESPORT, PENNSYLVANIA.

MECHANICAL STOKIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 29, 1907.

Application filed May a. 1907. Serial No. 371.712.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID A. W001), a citizen of the United States,residing at McKeesport, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMechanical Stokers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention contemplates certain new and useful improvements incombined automatic stokers, smoke consumers and ash burners for steamboiler furnaces and the like, and the invention has for its object animproved construction of apparatus of this character which will becomposed of comparatively few and simple parts that are not liable toget out of order and that may be operated efficiently for the desiredpurpose.

With these and other objects in View as will more fully appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions,arrangements and combinations of the parts which 1 shall hereinafterfully describe and then point out the novel features in the appendedclaims.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof andalso to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the meansfor effecting the result, reference is to be had to the followingdescription and accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved mechanical stoker; Fig. 2is a vertical sectional view thereof;

.Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the elevator; Fig.4 is a. sectional side elevation of the elevator; Fig. 5 is a detailsectional view of the primary chute; Fig. 6 is a detail sectional viewwith parts in side elevation, illustrating the volume controlling gatefor the traveling grate; and, Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view of aportion of the ash tank.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

My improved apparatus embodies an elevator of which 1 designates thecasing, provided at its lower end with a coal hopper 2. An elevatorchain 3 is mounted within the casing and is adapted to run over an uppershaft 4 and a lower shaft 5 that are provided, respectively, withsprockets 4 and 5, preferably, consisting of square or otherwisepolygonal blocks, as shown. The lower shaft 5 is preferably j ournaledin adjustable boxes 6 so that the tension of the chain may be regulated.The chain 3 consists of a series of links 1% that are provided at oneend with hooks and at the pther end with eyes, the books of one linkbeing engaged with the eye of the next adjacent link, so that the entirechain may be constructed without the use of bolts or rivets that areconstantly getting out of order and causing trouble.

Each link is formed intermediate of its ends with a cheek piece 3 havinga flat surface adapted to be engaged by one of the fiat surfaces of thesprocket, so as to effect the travel of the chain. Buckets 8 are securedto the respective links and are provided with oppositely extending guidearms 9 arranged for guiding movement between the rails 10 of theelevator casing, so as to maintain the buckets in proper alinement andprevent them from tipping sidewise to spill their load or from otherwisebecoming disarranged.

The primary chute 11 is secured to and slopes downwardly from the top ofthe elevator casing 1 in position to receive the loads discharged fromthe buckets 8 and said chute is provided near its receiving end with abottom discharge opening 12 controlled by a sliding gate 13 that may beopened and closed by the operator in any desired manner. A coal chute 14is suspended at its upper end subjaccnt the bottom discharge opening 12of the primary chute 11, the lower end of said coal chute being held inproximity to a feeder which consists of a chain 15, the links of whichare provided with lags or scraperblades 15, said chain .being mounted topass around shafts 16 journaled in brackets on the standards of thesupporting framework 17. One of said shafts 16 is provided with a pulley18 by which the endless feeders may be driven. The framework 17 may besupported on the top 19 of a coal tank 20, and the scraper blades 15 areadapted to slide. horizontally on edge under the said top and underneathrails 19 which guide them in proper movement. .The top 19 of the coaltank 20 extends along in front of the boilers (not shown), and said topis provided with openings extending th erethrough and controlled bygates 21, mounted to slide as shown and provided with operating handles22. A platform 23 with a railing supported thereby, is mounted upon thetop 19, so that an operator may stand there on and manipulate thehandles 22, as well as any.clutch that may be provided for the pulley l8and other pulleys of the apparatus, hereinafter specified. The coal tank20 is supported on the cross beam 24 which is held in an elevatedposition on standards 25. A stoker feeding chute 26 projects fromunderneath the coal tank 20 and is contiguous to a bottom dischargeopening in said tank, said opening being controlled bya gate 27manipulated by means of a lever 28. 29 designates the stoker frameworkwhich is provided with a hopper or stop plate 30 to direct the materialwhich is discharged from the chute 26, and a fuel regulating gate 31 issuspended by means of chains or cables 31 in proximity to the lower endof thechute 26, preferably beyond the same, said gate 31 beingvertically adjusted so as to control the volume of material passing tothe furnace. These cords 31 are adapted to wind upon a shaft 32 which isprovided with a ratchet 33, and a hand actuated pawl 34 engages withsaid ratchet to turn the shaft, so as to hold the gate with its loweredge at different elevations.

This gate is preferably constructed of brick-work.

-said shafts with its upper lap extending from front to rear so as tocarry the material back to the furnace. These grate bars are in the formof perforated plates 36, and the links 37 are formed with interengaginghooks 38 and eyes 39 and pass around sprocket wheels 40, the jointsbetween the links, as clearly illustrated in the drawings, providingthat the grate bars will abut edge to edge to the upper and lower lapsof the travel, but will separate as they pass around the sprocketwheels. In the present instance, 1 have shown three sets of sprocketwheels, and three chains to support these grate bars in their travel.One of the grate shafts is provided with a pulley 41 by which thetraveling grate is driven. 42 designates an ash chute which is arrangedunderneath the traveling grate and slopes from rear to front, as shown,and at the discharge end of said chute there is a horizontally extendingrun-way 43 over which the ash conveyor 44 travels. This conveyorembodies a series of scraper blades 45 designed to travel on edge asshown and scrape ashes into the discharge chute and hopper 46 whichconveys the ashes to the bottom of the elevator casing, so that they maybe caught by the buckets and carried upwardly to be discharged into theprimary chute 11. The ash conveyer 44 travels around shafts 47 and 48,the latter being pro vided with a bevel pinion 49 which engages asimilar pinion 50 on a stub shaft 51. The stub shaft 51 carries a pulley52, and a belt 53 oporatively connects said pulley with a similar pulley54 on the maindrive shaft 55 which is journaled in bearings on thestandards 25. At one end the drive shaft 55 carries a pulley 55 and abelt 56 operatively connects said pulley with the pulley 41 to drive thetraveling grate of the stoker. The

shaft 55 extends over in front of the elevator casing 1.

as shown and is provided at its end with a pulley 57 connected by a beltto a similar pulley on the stub shaft 58 journaled in suitable bearingson the plat form 58. This stub 58 carries a bevel pinion 59 meshing witha similar pinion 60 on a stub shaft 61, and said last named stub shaftcarriesa pulley 62 connected by belts with pulley 63 on the upper shaft4 of the elevator.

The primary chute 11 is provided beyond the bottom discharge opening 12with a gate 64 which extendsthereacross, and which may be raised orlowered, if desired, so as to prevent the ashes from falling down thesaid primary chute and the lower end of said primary chuteis incommunication with the chute 65 which forms a continuation thereof andwhich is preferably supported by a portion of the framework 17. Thelower end of the chute 65 is adapted to discharge into an inclined ashtank 65. Saidash tank is provided with a rotary mixer 66 consisting of aseries of blades extending thereagainst and mounted upon a shaft, andsaid shaft is provided with a pulley so that it may be turned Wheneverdesired to slowly feed the ashes from the ash tank 65 and permit them todrop downwardly for action by the feeder just below the tank so as tomix with the coal in the coal tank 20. 68 designates the bridge wall andflame bed over which the flame is directed so as to act upon the boiler.

In the practical operation of my improved apparatus, the coal is firstdumped from the car into the hopper 2 at the bottom of the elevatorcasing 1, which is then seasso bottom discharge opening 12 is opened,the coal will pass down the coal chute 14 and be carried by the feederor conveyor chain 15 along the front of the boilers and be dumped intothe coal tank 20. The coal then runs down the chute 26 underneath theregulating gate 31. As the coal passes through, under the gate, itstarts to burn, and the stoker is automatically moved slowly so as toeffect the consumption of the fuel before it is dumped by the grate. Thestokeris intended to be mounted in a brick furnace with two sides, frontand roof, the back being left open to allow the fire to pass out to theboiler. As the ashes are discharged, as above described, into the lowerend of the elevator, they are carried upwardly and discharged on to theprimary chute 11. If it be desired to fill the ash tank, the gate 64 israised and the discharge opening 12 of the chute 11 is closed. The asheswill then pass to the ash tank 65. If it be desired to slowly mix theashes from this tank with the coal as it is discharged by the elevatoron to the primary chute'll, the mixer of the ash tank is started and theashes fed in the proper proportions to mix with the coal passing downthrough the bottom discharge opening 12 and the chute 14 to the coaltank 20. Or, if desired, the gate 64 may be closed and coal fed into thecoal hopper 2 whereupon both ashes and coal will be carried upwardly bythe elevator and discharged through the opening 12 on to the chute 14 soas to convey the mixed ashes and coal directly to the coal tank 20. v

From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it will be seen that I have provided a very simple, durableand efficient construction of apparatus of this character by which theashes may be mixed with the coal and returned to the furnace in such amanner capable of regulation, as to give the ashes a chance to burn upwhen passing through the fire.

In the installation of my improved apparatus, the

stoker is to be supported on a level with the floor, and

the ash conveyor is to be underneath the floor. The lower end of thecoal elevator is mounted in a still lower plane, so as to permit theashes to run in at the bottom of the elevator casing from the ashconveyer.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a mechanical stoker, the combination of a traveling grate, meansfor feeding coal to said grate, and means for mixing ashes with the coalpreparatory to being fed to the grate. L

In a mechanical stoker, the combination of a traveling grate, means foractuating the same, a storage tank for coal above the grate and adaptedto discharge coal thereon, means for elevating and feeding coal to saidtank, and means for conveying the ashes from the grate to the coalelevating means and for transmitting the said ashes to the said storagetank.

3. In a mechanical stoker, the combination of a traveling grate, meansfor actuating the same, a coal elevator, meansfor actuating the same, astorage tank for coal above the grate and adapted to discharge coalthereon, a chute adapted to convey the coal from the elevator to saidtank, and an ash conveyer underneath the grate and connected to the coalelevator and adapted to convey ashes fromthe grate to the conveyer sothat the ashes may be carried upwardly with the coal and discharged intothe tank.

4. In a mechanical stoker, the combination with a travcling grate andmeans for actuating the same, of a-storage tank above the grate andadapted to discharge thereon, an

elevator, a chute connecting the upper discharge end of the elevatorwith the said tank, an ash tank supported above the first named tank, achute connecting said ash tank with the upper discharge end of theelevator, and means for directing the ashes either over said last namedchute into the ash tank, or directly down the first named chute into thefirst named tank.

'5. In a mechanical stoker, the combination of a traveling grate. meansfor actuating the same, a coal tank above the traveling grate andadapted to discharge thereon, an elevator, an ash conveyer underneaththe grate and adapted to convey the ashes therefrom to the elevator, 21coal hopper connected to said elevator, a chute connecting the upperdischarge end of the elevator, with the coal tank, a primary chuteprovided with a bottom discharge opening above the first named chute,means for controlling said opening, an ash tank supported above the coaltank, means for directing ashes over the primary tank into the ash tank,and means for controlling the flow of ashes from the ash tank to thecoal' tank.

6. A mechanical stoker, the combination of a traveling grate, means foractuating the same, a coal tank mounted above the grate and adapted todischarge thereon, and an elevator adapted to automatically dischargecoal into the said tank, means for actuating said elevator, an ashconveyer underneath the grate and adapted to convey ashes therefrom anddischarge them into the elevator, and means for actuating said ashconveyer whereby ashes may be emptied into the elevator and carried tothe coal tank.

7. In a mechanical stoker, the combination of a traveling grate, meansfor actuating the same, a coal tank above said grate and adapted todischarge thereon, an elevator provided at its upper end with a chuteadapted to discharge coal into the coal tank, an ash tank supported inan inclined position above the coal tank, a chute adapted to directashes into the ash tank, and provided with a bottom opening and aclosure therefor, said bottom opening being adapted to permitelther'coal or ashes to drop into the first named chute, means forfeeding ashes from the ash tank to the coal tank, an ash eonveyerunderneath the grate and adapted to convey ashes therefrom to theelevator, and means for actuating said ash conveyer.

S. In a mechanical stoker, the combination of a travel ing grate, meansfor actuating the same. a coal tank mounted above the grate and adaptedto discharge there on, a feeder supported above said tank and adapted tocarry material along the top thereof, said top being pro' vided withopenings through which the material may be scraped into the tank, anelevator provided at its lower end with a coal receiving hopper, a chuteconnected to the upper discharge end of said elevator and adapted todischarge material on to the top of the coal tank, a pri' mary tank alsosecured to the upper discharge end of the elevator, and above the firstnamed chute, an ash tank supported above the coal tank and in operativecommunication with the lower end of said primary chute, said primarychute being provided with a bottom discharge opening over the firstnamed chute and with a closure therefor and being also provided with agrate extending thereacross beyond said bottom opening, an ash conveyerunderneath the grate and adapted to convey ashes to the lower end of theelevator and deposit them therein for elevation, and means for actuatingsaid ash conveyer.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID A. WOOD. [L. s.]

Witnesses:

CATHERINE BARRY, B. F. KUMMEB.

